It is not necessary to devote a lot of time to volunteering. But it is something that, in these trying times, can help you find meaning and give back. Here are a few organisations that are offering COVID-19 volunteer opportunities online. Additionally, they expect a weekly commitment of no more than four hours! You need a phone and a computer for most of these volunteer positions.
Best Tips and suggestions to volunteer to help seniors
1. You may contact and talk to nearby local authorities such as community services centres, medical professionals, or departments of ageing. These are some of the locations which have the most engagement with seniors.
2. Join a group or organisation near your school, college, or residence or in the same locality to easily manage your personal life. Many private organisations also provide services to the elderly, in addition to local authorities. You may also Google elderly home volunteer near me.
3. To volunteer at a nursing home, start one yourself or join one in the local senior living neighbourhood. Your area probably has senior living communities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These are also fantastic locations to offer your time and efforts to help them. Ask the employees of a nearby senior living centre how you might volunteer to assist the seniors in their facility.
4. Apply and go through the process. Generally speaking, to volunteer in communities, organisations, governments, agencies, and private care facilities will ask that you need to apply. This is done to protect seniors from anyone who might try to take advantage of them. Fill out the application form and get started if you are eager to volunteer.
5. There is another alternative applicable when you may not always be available or capable of devoting adequate time to the seniors and their organisations. You can donate to these organisations or senior homes, which is also a noble deed.
6. Other than going to any organisation, you may directly go for helping the seniors in your community. You may now spend quality time with them. Many seniors need an ear who can listen to their stories and experiences. You can become that friendly ear to listen to their experiences, how they are dealing with loneliness, their jokes, and their past life, or simply about their life experiences.
7. Bring nutritious and tasty meals for seniors because many seniors may not take a nutritious diet and can develop malnutrition.
8. Cooking meals for senior family members, acquaintances, and neighbours is another method to cheer them up. In addition to providing the individual with baДџlantД±yД± inceleyin sufficient nutrition and joy, this may also be financially beneficial.
9. Assisting seniors with household chores. As people get older, a lot of them stay in their homes. Seniors could need a handyperson to assist them with various tasks around the house. This gives you the chance to offer personal assistance while offering them a much-needed company.
10. Driving seniors to necessary locations. Some seniors can no longer drive. Volunteering to drive a senior can enable them to access essential services, leave the house, and have a little company and fun while also getting out and about.
11. Assemble MP3 players. Any senior can benefit from music. Seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s may benefit most from it. Plan a donation drive to gather brand-new or barely used MP3 devices. You can either donate all the equipment to nearby senior care institutions or give these to seniors you know.
12. Start an educational computer programme. Knowing how to utilise a computer in the digital age might broaden one’s horizons. It might be a useful approach for senior citizens to travel, stay in touch with loved ones, and have fun. This is best for old age home volunteer work and especially for volunteering for seniors above 70 years.
1. StoriiTime: It is a no-cost volunteer programme specifically created for seniors. This application brings volunteer opportunities for seniors and promotes imagination, and language, and strengthens relationships.
2. Be My Eyes: You can download the free app, Be My Eyes. Users who are visually impaired can ask for assistance in object identification. Requests can range from reading anything to helping them choose a can of soup. Submissions can be made at any time, and the majority are finished in 2 to 5 minutes. Accessible on iOS and Android devices.
Emoha App
With the Emoha app, you get access to 24/7 emergency support for non-medical & medical emergencies alike that can be availed from any place in India within seconds. You also get exclusive benefits like travel booking assistance, special discounts on travel & medicines, a helpdesk for daily support, and much more. You can also read exclusively tailored blogs for seniors on several topics ranging from health to well-being to entertainment. Download the app from Google Playstore or iOS App Store.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you may get to know nearly a dozen tips that help you understand how to volunteer for the seniors near you. You may also learn about online platforms where you can connect directly with them.
FAQs
You may spend time with such alone and isolated seniors. Sometimes seniors need someone’s mere presence, and they start coming out of their shells.
You may first introduce yourself and tell them your intention behind meeting them and why you want to help and volunteer for them.
You must avoid saying things that “you bore me every day with the same story” or pointing them out about their age deformity that “you can’t see how to drive.”
Ask about their favourite things, what sports they like, and what are their favourite recreation places where they have visited.